Software Defined Radio

This page summarizes information for software defined radio (SDR).

Overview

Radio components such as modulators, demodulators and tuners are traditionally implemented in hardware components. The advent of modern computing and analogue to digital converters allows most of these traditionally hardware based components to be implemented into software instead. Hence, the term software defined radio. This enables easy signal processing and thus cheap wide band scanner radios to be produced. (quoted from https://www.rtl-sdr.com/about-rtl-sdr/)

An good (though not the latest) introduction on the SDR is available here. A list of SDR can be found here

Hardware

There are many SDR platforms available on the market, with different specifications and prices. A comprehensive list can be found at here

A comparison between different SDR is produced by LimeSDR and quoted here. Source: https://www.crowdsupply.com/lime-micro/limesdr-mini#comparison-table

Item	HackRF One	Ettus B200	Ettus B210	BladeRF x40	RTL-SDR	LimeSDR	LimeSDR Mini
Frequency Range	1 MHz - 6 GHz	70 MHz - 6 GHz	70 MHz - 6 GHz	300 MHz - 3.8 GHz	22 MHz - 2.2 GHz	100 kHz - 3.8 GHz	10 MHz - 3.5 GHz
RF Bandwidth	20 MHz	61.44 MHz	61.44 MHz	40 MHz	3.2 MHz	61.44 MHz	30.72 MHz
Sample Depth	8 bit	12 bit	12 bit	12 bit	8 bit	12 bit	12 bit
Sample Rate	20 MSPS	61.44 MSPS	61.44 MSPS	40 MSPS	3.2 MSPS	61.44 MSPS	30.72MSPS
TX Channels	1	1	2	1	0	2	1
RX Channels	1	1	2	1	1	2	1
Duplex	Half	Full	Full	Full	N/A	Full	Full
Interface	USB 2.0	USB 3.0	USB 3.0	USB 3.0	USB 2.0	USB 3.0	USB 3.0
Programmable Logic Gates	64 macrocell CPLD	75k	100k	40k (115k avail)	N/A	40k	16K
Chipset	MAX5864, MAX2837, RFFC5072	AD9364	AD9361	LMS6002M	RTL2832U	LMS7002M	LMS7002M
Open Source	Full	Schematic, Firmware	Schematic, Firmware	Schematic, Firmware	No	Full	Full
Oscillator Precision	+/- 20 ppm	+/- 2 ppm	+/- 2 ppm	+/- 1 ppm	?	+/-1 ppm initial, +/-4 ppm stable	+/- 1 ppm initial, +/- 4 ppm stable
Transmit Power	-10 dBm+ (15 dBm @ 2.4 GHz)	10 dBm+	10 dBm+	6 dBm	N/A	max 10 dBm (depending on freq.)	max 10 dBm (depending on freq.)
Price	$299	$686	$1,119	$420	~$10	$299	$159

Universal Software Radio Peripheral (USRP)

USRP has different series, including network series, bus series, embedded series. A selection guide is given in https://kb.ettus.com/Selecting_an_USRP_Device

Some USRP series do not have RF capabilities, e.g., the N210 USRP. A separate RF daughterboard will be required.

• RF Daughterboard Selection: Not all the USRP is equpped with the RF card, including N and X series. A selection guide is provided at https://kb.ettus.com/Selecting_an_RF_Daughterboard

AD9361/AD9363/AD9364 Boards

• Introduction to boards based on the AD9361/AD9363/AD9364
• Difference among AD9361/AD9363/AD9364

LimeSDR

RTL-SDR

Wireless Open Access Research Platform (WARP)

Strictly speaking, WARP is not an SDR platform, because it uses a WiFi chipset MAX2829. There are two reference designs, namely 802.11 reference design and WARPLab reference design. The driver has been developed for both designs and the users can simply focus on developing their applications and prototypes.

• WARP 802.11 reference design is compatible with the commercial WiFi standard. The PHY and MAC codes are running at the FPGA. An experimental framework has been developed with two WARP boards connecting to a PC via a Ethernet switch. Python has been used. A more detailed introduction can be found at link
• WARPLab reference design is very suitable for fast prototype of physical layer algorithm. Two or more WARP boards are connected to a PC via a Ethernet switch. The signal is modulated at the Matlab, then transferred to WARP transmitter via Ethernet cable. The data is triggered for transmission through the real wireless channel. The WARP receiver captures the signal and transfer it to the PC/Matlab via Ethernet cable for further processing.

Development Tool

GNU Radio

Tutorial

Matlab

• Supported Devices: USRP, Zynq SDR, RTL-SDR, and Adalm PlutoSDR
• Link

Tutorial

http://aaronscher.com/wireless_com_SDR/home.html